“I just can’t wait to get out there. Before I even got told I was getting elevated, I was having a couple of set shots after training and ‘Richo’ [coach Alan Richardson] came up and said I was playing.’’

After getting his second chance in the rookie draft, Templeton said he had told Saints recruiting manager Tony Elshaug “thanks and I won’t let you down”.

“I’ve had to live by those words,” he said. “I’ve just tackled it head on, done everything I needed to do as well as the extras.”

Templeton has taken the place of Lewis Pearce on the Saints’ senior list, with the ruckman approaching the Tasmanian at the club’s season launch last week to say he was a chance of being promoted in his spot.

Comments on this story

Billy Griffin of Melbourne Posted at 8:50 PM March 22, 2014

Well done Eli....good luck tonight. Father Peter was a champion for Cooee and the Burnie Hawks and little Uncle Michael, while not in Peter's class was a handy back pocket for Cuprona when things got willing.